Carnival Cruise Line has contacted booked friends on future Mardi Gras sailings to advise them of an itinerary modify, dropping San Juan, Puerto Rico from the routine and substituting Nassau, The Bahamas, as a substitute. This itinerary transform applies to quite a few Unique Eastern Caribbean voyages in the coming months, starting with the ship’s scheduled February 26, 2022 sailing.
San Juan Dropped From Routine
No rationalization for the itinerary transform has been presented, but it is probable that ongoing area COVID-19 tests prerequisites or well being and safety protocols could be component of the reasoning.
The electronic mail, despatched to visitors on February 18, 2022, stated: “As we go on to refine our operational programs for your cruise, we have made some itinerary changes to your sailing. We have replaced our check out to San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a contact on Nassau, The Bahamas. The total itinerary information will be reflected on Carnival.com in just 24 hours.”
A lot of cruise traces suspended upcoming visits to San Juan in late December 2021, when community authorities implemented rigorous testing needs. Individuals necessities have been to be comfortable earlier this thirty day period, nevertheless, with cruise ship travellers no for a longer period needing to present damaging exam outcomes inside of 48 hrs prior to arrival in Puerto Rico.
Instead, merely furnishing proof of vaccination was ample for cruise tourists to love San Juan as a port of contact, even though the stricter requirements remained if ships were to use the port for embarkation or debarkation.
With regards to arriving into the island, Puerto Rico’s Official Tourism Internet site states: “As of February 2nd, vaccinated tourists are no longer demanded to existing a damaging test.”
Also, specifics specially for cruise ship port of phone calls condition: “For ships to be permitted entry to Puerto Rico, all company 12 a long time of age or older should be entirely vaccinated with an FDA or WHO vaccine. Unvaccinated travellers can not disembark in Puerto Rico except for small children below 12 a long time of age.”
No even further constraints are outlined for cruise ship visits, while vacationers are advised to look at with their cruise line for up-to-day suggestions from the cruise operator.
Other achievable explanations for these ongoing port of call cancelations may perhaps be associated to other ships browsing San Juan at the identical time, developing crowding at the port, or gasoline charges for functioning cruises in excess of that distance.
Some speculation has also viewed as the concept that Mardi Gras could be dealing with engine problems that could impact her best cruising speed, producing reaching Puerto Rico – which is somewhere around 1,150 miles from the ship’s property port, Port Canaveral – extra challenging. In comparison, Nassau is approximately 310 miles from Port Canaveral. No affirmation of this possibility has been presented, on the other hand.
Whilst several sailings have been impacted, there is no general date range for how several itineraries are becoming modified. Company booked on Mardi Gras in the coming weeks and months ought to remain inform to notifications from Carnival Cruise Line about alterations to their itineraries.
Shore Excursions Refunded
For booked visitors who had already pre-paid out for San Juan shore excursions as a result of Carnival Cruise Line, these costs will be refunded to guests’ Sail & Signal accounts for the February 26 sailing, and back to the unique sort of payment for long term impacted sailings.
As quickly as the itinerary change is reflected on Carnival.com, friends will be capable to pre-reserve shore excursions for Nassau.
Study Far more: Ideal Items to Do in Nassau, Bahamas
For the time staying, there are no further more modifications to Mardi Gras’ Unique Japanese Caribbean itineraries, other than for a slight rearrange of the times at sea. The ship will first have a working day at sea, in advance of contacting on Nassau the future working day. The ship will be docked in Nassau from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the similar several hours in port that experienced been planned for San Juan.
A further day at sea will follow the working day in Nassau, then the remaining two ports of simply call – Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, and Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos – prior to a remaining working day at sea as the ship returns to Port Canaveral.
